I can traverse time periods. I first started writing westerns for Debra Holland’s Montana Sky Publishing, set in 1888-89. Then I was invited to write a series called Brides of Blessings set during the California Gold Rush, around 1848. Cojocaru’s is part of the plot in Sweeten the Swindler.

Now I’m writing with another group of authors where our settings are in 1878. It’s nice to have something mobile that I can incorporate into whatever series I’m invited to join, when I can fit into my writing schedule.

I can have my settings anywhere in America … or in Great Britain. Or, anywhere in the world, or alternate worlds! I plan to have Cojocaru’s in England and Scotland, period around the 1840s for my next set of books in my Mad Magic series.

One of my minor characters in the book I’m currently writing was inspired by The Seven Sutherland Sisters, Seven Wonders of the World.

Theirs was an act that played a bit like burlesque, minus the stripping. New York-born sisters Sarah, Victoria, Isabella, Grace, Naomi, Mary, and Dora Sutherland were gifted singers who, at their father’s urging, moved off his struggling turkey farm and onto the stage in the 1880s. While their act began with singing, it was their big reveal that had audiences flocking and P.T. Barnum calling them ‘the seven most pleasing wonders of the world.’

As their grand finale, the seven sisters would undo their updos to unfurl seven feet of long, lustrous hair. There was something provocative to this display that had men in awe and women feeling envious. Their father, Fletcher, took advantage by peddling Sutherland Sisters Hair Fertilizer, which brought in $90,000 in its first year. The massive popularity of this and similarly themed products allowed the girls to retire. And just in time, too, as hair trends soon turned shorter when bobs became the haircut of choice. Sadly, wealth did not bring happiness to the Sutherlands, who would long be plagued by scandals over frivolous spending, drug use, alleged witchcraft, and tawdry romances.

My minor character will sing and have long carrot-red curly hair that she will unwind to show their glistening lengths in order to sell her hair products. Maybe I’ll tell her story sometime.

This Century 21 article says that Topsail Island wasn’t named because of pirate ships’ topsails showing above the trees as they tried to hide behind the island. That the name was coined on navigational charts way before the island was named.

But come on! The coined name had to originate from something that described the island. The cartographers who called it that on the charts probably did so because it really was the home of. Blackbeard and other pirates who stopped there frequently–and whoever navigated along the NC coast would know where they were because of the topsails visible on the other side of the island.

]]>http://dallisadams.com/topsail-island-name/feed/0Newsletter Pollhttp://dallisadams.com/newsletter-poll/
http://dallisadams.com/newsletter-poll/#respondMon, 18 Jun 2018 07:00:58 +0000http://dallisadams.com/?p=2100This poll is for my newsletter subscribers. I have heard so many things from authors about what their readers prefer. Some say their readers want to get to know them better personally with a weekly newsletter. Some authors say their readers only want to hear from them when books are released. So. This is why I decided to make a poll and see what you think. I don’t want to bombard you with something you would rather not read. But on the other hand, if you want a friend, I would love that. I always welcome more friends!

I’m venturing into another genre that is new to me. I’ve been thinking about doing this for quite a while. Now I’ve decided to bite the bullet! What am I talking about?

New Adult.

What is New Adult? Emerging Adults. It’s after Young Adult. It’s before Adulthood. And marked by identity exploration, instability, self-focus, and possibilities. Oh, the possibilities, with a stunning breadth of opportunities to explore! I’m really excited. And, of course for me, I’m going to write these novels in a fantasy setting.

Although my books aren’t going to be about students in college in a modern day setting, they are going to be about emerging adults between around 18 to 28. My heroine is going to have to discover who she is, what she believes in, what is her life goal–eventually. She is going to still have to answer important questions about her work, about relationships and explore her sexuality. I don’t know how much sex I’m going to put in my books, but I don’t think it will be as heavy as Fifty Shades of Grey! I’m thinking more on the lines of Sarah J. Maas’s Court of Thorns and Roses series, which are New Adult books. And her books are more about her heroine’s feelings, and just a page or two about the sex. But I will have a reoccurring heroine in my first three books, where she has big character growth throughout.

One thing I’ve noticed is that most of the New Adult book series that I’m familiar with are named after the first book. I wasn’t going to do that … but maybe I should?

Look at the fun, active saloon scene above. Can’t you just imagine the people moving, drinking and talking? Doesn’t that scene get your creative juices flowing? What’s going on with that pretty woman and why is that heavy-set man grabbing her? Will she wallop him over the head with a whiskey bottle and be on the run once again from the uncle who wants her inheritance? Or did she swindle him and he has caught on? How about the gent in the forefront? Will he intercede on her behalf? And if he does, will she accept his help or give him a walloping of his own, which he manages to thwart? Or?

An idea for a story can come from many places. The idea can spark from an image, or a newspaper article, or an incident that happens to you or to a family member or friend. Or an eccentric personality of somebody you know and love can evolve into the protagonist for your book. Sometimes a dream generates an idea. I love to read other author’s books. Many times I’ll read a book and then think, but what if such-and-such had happened? Or what if something like that had happened in another country? Or time in history? Ideas abound!

After an idea does occur, you must test to see if the premise has longevity. Think about each character’s goal. What is it? Then you ask yourself why? What’s keeping the character(s) from achieving their goal. It’s important to think of both inner motivation and conflict as well as the external motivation and conflict. And the conflict should be between the hero and heroine, if you’re writing a romance. That’s particularly where the internal conflicts come in.

Right now I’m reading an older book of Amanda Quick’s called Mischief. I just love how she weaves a story. One of her secrets is how she gives the hero and heroines flaws. This is where backstory comes in. The hero’s mother trapped his father into marriage by getting pregnant. His father neglected him because he couldn’t stand to be with his wife. She cried a lot and the hero felt helpless because nothing he did eased her sorrows over her husband’s abandonment.

The mom committed suicide and the father said thank God he was free, which turned the hero completely against his father and subsequent new wife. Dad doted on the new wife like he never did with the hero’s mom. And he loved and spent time with his new daughter the way he never did with his son the hero. The hero swore to himself to never get married.

Of course, the hero’s dad and second wife are killed in a carriage accident. His half-sister is sent to a cruel uncle and his sleazy son who makes innuendos and scares her. She pleads her brother for help. That’s one thing he promised his father, that he would take care of his sister if anything happened to the parents. Now the sister is on his doorstep and he has no idea what to do. In comes the heroine to help him. But do you see how the backstory affects the current story and his inability to commit?

What’s especially important to me is the inciting incident, the hook. I want to start with an exciting scene. Sometimes I know exactly where to start. Other times I have to revise several times before the beginning feels right. Many times it’s close to when the hero and heroine meet.

Blessings, California

During the Gold Rush

Dallis’s Main Characters and Setting

Click to Pre-Order

Below are my main characters in a series of related novels that I’m working on with Lynn Winchester, Kari Trumbo, Heather Blanton, Danica Favorite, and Mimi Milan. All of our characters are part of a fictitious town that began during the California Gold Rush. Although I provided photos of my characters, I also added their eye color since it’s difficult to tell in some of the images.

Cover Copy for Sweeten the Swindler

To swindle a swindler is Jake’s idea of the ultimate revenge. His nemesis conned away his brother’s miner hat blueprints. In turn, Jake plans to woo his enemy’s bookish niece and then convince her to buy enough shares in Jake’s railroad ponzi scheme to bankrupt the miner hat business. Jake’s Trojan horse is a four-pound carnival trick dog. Maxine Sweeten is a math whizz at keeping her uncle’s accounts on Pasley Miner’s Hats and dabbling in the stock market. She loves all God’s creatures. When Jake brings Maxine the supposedly lame-legged terrier, she can’t help but soften toward the rugged stranger with his own emotional wounds that shadow his eyes. Once she realizes Jake is out to ruin both her and her uncle, she’s determined to discover why. His reasons open up a whole new bundle of trouble. What’s more, she must find a way to heal not only creatures from the forest, but Jake’s wild heart.

]]>http://dallisadams.com/brides-of-blessings-characters/feed/0Roasted Vegetable Penne Pastahttp://dallisadams.com/roasted-vegetable-penne-pasta/
http://dallisadams.com/roasted-vegetable-penne-pasta/#respondSat, 06 Jan 2018 03:13:01 +0000http://dallisadams.com/?p=1719I love this Vegan Recipe! I made it earlier this evening and it was a hit. Instead of roasting the veggies though, I sauteed them with a little olive oil, a clove of garlic, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning along with salt and pepper. Next time I want to put marinated artichokes in the veggies.

Separate veggies between two pans and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 40-45 minutes, rotating top and bottom pan and stirring vegetables every 15 minutes. Once your vegetables start to brown around the edges they are done.

Approximately 15 minutes before vegetables are done, prepare penne by bringing an 8 quart pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and a handful of salt. Cook according to package directions (approximately 7-10 minutes). Remove from heat when pasta is al dente. Drain. Pour pasta into a large serving bowl, add hot roasted vegetables on top.

Drizzle 1/4 cup olive oil over the top and add garlic and 1 cup cheese. Toss well to combine. Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese and serve.

The following is a list of common medieval terms that you might run across as a reader of my stories, or others set in Medieval Times. But don’t worry; I won’t use too many of these—just enough to flavor the narrative or dialogue.

Aid: A financial obligation the vassal owed his lord for special circumstances or occasions.

Anon: At once or soon.

Aye, Yea: Yes.

Cornettes: Two-pointed headdress.

Coz: Cousin.

Craft: A skilled labor.

Daub: Clay and hair smeared over a wooden structure of a house.

Demesne: Land held directly by the lord.

Eyre: English Court.

Fief, Feud: Land held from a lord.

Fisyk: Medicine.

Flail: A stick used to separate wheat grains from ears.

Frankpledge: A pledge made by all the members of a community in which they vowed to take responsibility for their actions. If one person broke the law, all were responsible for bringing that person to justice.

Free-lance: A term used for mercenaries.

Heriot: A death tax paid by the murderer if someone was killed.

Hither: Here.

Host: Military service owed to a lord.

Journeyman, Journeywoman: A skilled worker who was employed by guildmasters or who worked independently for daily wages.

Knave: A disrespectful form of address to a man.

Knotty-pated, Addle-pated: stupid.

Ling: A type of fish.

Lingulae: The keys on an organ.

Manor: Land held by a lord and worked by tenants.

Nay: No.

Oblate: Someone who entered the church at an early age.

Oblation: A fee paid to the church by someone who gave their child to the clergy.

Right now I’m writing a series with Ruth A. Casie that is set around 1501. The series has quite a bit of fantasy in it and I’m thinking it’s more of an alternate reality because we aren’t necessarily following historical events. But the series does have the Highlanders and the kilts, etc.

A while back I wrote a medieval romance set during William the Conqueror’s time. Some day I would like to write a series and tie it in to our Highlander series, maybe to explain more about the Highlander magic and what happened to make the magic lesser in the 1500s, and what happened to the Aberock tomes. I wanted to post this article that I wrote after doing tons of research on the Saxons. Here it is:

The Angles and Saxons began their invasion into England during the final days of the Roman Empire and within 150 years, they dominated their new land. Though their language was Germanic in origin, it was always referred to as English whether spoken by Saxons, Jutes or Angles.

Christianity came first to England during the Roman days, but due to the customs of its new Saxon kings, Christianity fell out of fashion. Missionaries reappeared during the sixth century, and over the next hundred years, they slowly began to reconvert the English.

We find the term Engla Lande, (Lande of the Angles), used around 880. By this time, the Viking invaders had already been to England’s shores several times. Their constant raids led them to settle York, East Anglia and Mercia. Once settled, they forced the English to buy them off with treasure called Danegeld. Should any English person encounter a Viking, the English person had to cede the road or bridge and call the Viking “Lord” or “Lady Dane.” Not satisfied with these accomplishments, the Vikings continued to attack the English natives, until King Alfred led his rebellion and began reclaiming the territory. For a while, Alfred confined them to a large area known as the Danelaw.

Though the Danes did continue to fight for dominance over England, the English themselves became more independent and began developing their own culture, law and language until the Norman invasion of 1066, when their customs were absorbed and altered by their new conquerors.

Vocabulary:

Aefen: Evening.

Aernemergen: Early morning.

Alderman: Noble.

Andsaca: Enemy.

Anforht: Terrified.

Anhaga: Solitary.

Anwealda: Lord.

Atheling: Prince.

Attor: Venom.

Bana: Slayer.

Beadurinc: Warrior.

Bearn: Child.

Beorn: Man.

Bileofa: Food.

Bill: Sword.

Bilwit: Innocent.

Boga: Bow.

Bordweall: Sheld-wall.

Breostcofa: Heart.

Bretwalda: Ruler of Britons.

Brimmann: Viking.

Burh: Fort.

Burnsele: Bathing area.

Byrne: Coat of mail.

Byrnwiga: Armored warrior.

Cald: Cold.

Daeg: Day.

Derlan: Harm.

Dohtor: Daughter.

Dol: Foolish.

Dolg: Wound.

Feond: Enemy.

Faeder: Father.

Eald: Old.

Gast: Angel (m.).

Gebiddan: Pray.

Geboren: Brother.

Gewinnan: Conquer.

Gyst: Stranger.

Hwitel: Knife.

Hordcofa, Sefa: Heart.

Holt: Forest.

Holm: Sea.

Mearh: Horse.

Preost: Priest.

Ides: Woman.

Treow: Faith, truth.

Wer: Husband.

Wiflan: Marry.

Wuldorfaeder: God.

]]>http://dallisadams.com/saxons/feed/2Types of Magichttp://dallisadams.com/types-of-magic/
http://dallisadams.com/types-of-magic/#respondSat, 30 Sep 2017 20:55:17 +0000http://dallisadams.com/?p=1291I love writing paranormal and fantasy romances. Ruth Casie and I have been working on a series of Highlander books. And we’ve been setting up our magicks. We wanted to set up something that is different from all the other fantasy books. And I have been immersing myself in various worlds. Years ago I watched Charmed TV series. I also re-read Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Series, which I loved. Sanderson made up a magic called allomancy, where the magic users need to swallow various shavings of metals in a vial to enhance their powers. There is also Terry Brooks–love his books, not so much the TV series. He has something called the wishsong, where the talented one can exert powers through singing.

What type of magic is this?Is this the ability to help plants grow faster? The ability to hear across miles? The ability to breathe under water? Try to give your magic a simple name.

Where does the magic come from?Was your character born with this ability? Did he gain it by maturing in some way? During adolescence, perhaps? Maybe it came upon him through a mutation or evolution of some sort. It could have come as a gift from another. Or maybe anyone can learn this magic with enough study and practice. What if the magic is a language like in A Name of the Wind or Eragon? Maybe the magic is only possible in a certain place. Or perhaps the magic comes from an object like an amulet, talisman, grimoire, stone, wand, a piece of jewelry, a weapon, or a suit of armor.

Where does the power come from?Was your character born with this ability? Did he gain it by maturing in some way? During adolescence, perhaps? Maybe it came upon him through a mutation or evolution of some sort. It could have come as a gift from another. Or maybe anyone can learn this magic with enough study and practice. What if the magic is a language like in A Name of the Wind or Eragon? Maybe the magic is only possible in a certain place. Or perhaps the magic comes from an object like an amulet, talisman, grimoire, stone, wand, a piece of jewelry, a weapon, or a suit of armor.

How does it work? Is it supernatural, does it come from nature, or can it be explained with science? Think up some different ways the magic can be used. Here are some types of abilities that can be learned if one has the bloodvoicing ability as in my Blood of Kings books. See how different I’ve made this from general telepathy?

Messaging – Sending a thought to another person.

Listening – Eavesdropping on the thoughts of another with or without their consent.

Watching – Looking through the eyes of another while hearing their thoughts.

Knocking – The way to let a gifted person know you want to communicate.

Blocking – Closing your mind so that no one can send you a message or look through your eyes.

Sensing – Recognizing when a gifted bloodvoicer is nearby.

Jumping – Using another bloodvoicer’s connection to reach a third individual. This is done in cases where an individual doesn’t know their target well enough to make a connection on their own.

Influencing – Forcing someone to do something secretly or by outright possession. A naughty use of one’s power.

Storming – Forcing someone’s soul from their body and into the Veil.Who has the ability and why them?Can everyone do this type of magic or only a select few? How does that affect the world? Think about farming, manufacturing, government. How does this power change those things? If everyone can do it, it’s not as powerful as if only a select few can. If only a few, why them? What’s special about them?

What is the cost of the magic?Magic should have a cost, otherwise there would be nothing to stop someone from taking over the world. Some overused costs are that the user grows weary or ages. Try to come up with something unique. And try to balance the power and cost. If the power is small, the cost can be small, but if the power is massive, the cost should be massive.

I admit. I’m a history nut. I don’t know where I came across the battle between the stockingers and hosiers, but to me it’s fascinating. Somewhere along the way wealthy merchants began buying up looms that stockingers couldn’t afford. The merchants were called hosiers. They had no idea how to actually work the looms, but they hired the stockingers (and took out rent monies for the use of their looms), and pretty much dictated what they wanted the stockingers to do. Then after the stockingers finished their weaving, the hosiers would make the stockingers cut up their weaves to make socks, sweaters, etc. The stockingers knew their weaves/knitting wouldn’t be as sturdy or last as long after it had been cut, but they had to do what the hosiers wanted or else they would be out of a job. Then the hosiers would charge exorbitant prices for their clothing, which only lasted a few months.

The public blamed the stockingers for low quality products, who in turn blamed the hosiers. That’s what led to the Luddite Rebellion, spearheaded by the imaginary General Ludd, who, like Robin Hood, was reputed to live in Sherwood Forest. The stockingers made up the general to protect them by having the government search for one fictitious person, as well as to give the people an ideal to look up to and to encourage them to keep up the rebel rousing. During the skirmishes stockingers would smash the looms.

This whole situation is the backdrop to Rescue a Rogue, the first book in my trilogy coming out soon, either late September or early October.

I like using the following expletives, or mild oaths and other terminology listed here:

Confound it: To express confusion or amazement.

Botheration: Just an exclamation, like for heaven’s sake. This is one that Nicola uses in Rescue a Rake.

Thunderation: An exclamation that Nicola’s father prefers using in Rescue a Rake.

Blast: As in “Blast Ramsey for getting her into this situation” (from Rescue a Rake).

Oh, la! — Like, Oh, my!

Et, wot? as in “You know?” or “Right?” in contemporary talk.

Faith! is like “oh, la!” except generally used to express greater wonderment.

Zooks! This is a mild, exclamatory oath that emerged in the seventeenth century. It’s the shortened version of gadzooks, which could be a word for God’s hooks (that is, the nails used to secure Jesus to the cross). So essentially, when someone in the Regency times says “zooks,” one is saying hooks. Also Zooterkins.

Chuckle-headed: ditzy, dimwitted.

Deuced: this mild oath refers to rolling a two in dice, which is the lowest possible score one might get. For this reason, the word is used to refer to things of less-than-ideal luck and generally has the same meaning as “damned” or “cursed.”

Tiens! — Same as “Oh, my gosh!” I have the Upper Crust use it when gossipmongers are talking about Nicola.

Dash it all — substitute for darn it.

]]>http://dallisadams.com/regency-mild-oaths/feed/0Romance Tropeshttp://dallisadams.com/romance-tropes/
http://dallisadams.com/romance-tropes/#respondThu, 13 Jul 2017 21:32:31 +0000http://dallisadams.com/?p=933Romance Tropes are plot devices used to bring lovers together. Several romance books use a combination of tropes for a unique plot, depending on the length of the book. One that I recently used was Best Friend’s Sibling which I combined with Forbidden Love in Tangled Bloom. As far as “forbidden love” goes, it can be forbidden in the character’s mind, not necessarily in society’s thinking. I admit I haven’t really looked at tropes, haven’t even been too much aware of them until recently.

I decided to look them up and found this wonderful list on Mindy Klasky’s site. I think this list will help me to know what tropes I use to help me pick tags and write blurbs. And I think it will be fun to consciously pick out tropes when I start plotting, which will keep my writing fresh. Here is a list of tropes:

Accidental pregnancy – our heroine’s pregnancy may be the result of a one-night stand, a longer-term fling, or a long-term relationship.

Alpha hero – our hero defines “Type A” – he’s driven, assertive, and in control of the world around him, except where his lover is concerned. This is a fun hero, one that I have in all of my books, which is so much fun. To see an assertive, in-control man suddenly unsure as to how to win over the heroine is a blast to write.

Amnesia – a blow on the head, a drug interaction, or for some other reason – our lover doesn’t know how s/he got where s/he is, but now s/he needs to fit into a new family, workplace, etc.

Arranged marriage – family expectations, cultural traditions, or religious beliefs bring our lovers together or try to keep them apart.

Athlete – sure, there are the big four – baseball, basketball, football, and hockey – but there are plenty of other sports around for one or both of our lovers to play.

Best friend’s sibling – usually, the heroine is the younger sister of the hero’s best friend (but other combinations are possible!) The sibling has always been taboo, but true passion upsets the status quo.

Billionaire – usually an alpha hero, this character can buy anything s/he wants, except for true love. I have one like this already written, but I’m waiting to publish it until I have a trilogy.

Blackmail – one lover knows a secret about the other, and s/he seeks a big payday.

Class warfare – one lover comes from money and social status, the other lacks both, but sparks fly once they meet. This is a trope I’m working on now, which I’ve combined with the alpha hero and marriage of convenience along with the Fish out of Water one described below.

Consanguinity – the lovers are cousins, step-siblings, or other relatives close enough to know each other but distant enough to flame a romance.

Cougar – a classic May/December relationship, but the older lover is a woman.

Cowboy – sometimes an alpha hero, a cowboy can be historical or contemporary, in his element (e.g., on a ranch) or out of his comfort zone (e.g., in New York City).

Cyrano – a lover woos another for a friend, only gradually realizing that s/he is falling in love her/himself. Rugged Bloom fits this trope, one I wasn’t familiar with.

Disguise – one or both lovers pretends to be something s/he isn’t – an expert in the workplace, a member of a family, etc. – but s/he falls in love while in disguise and is forced to continue the ruse. This is a delightful trope. Very fun!

Enemies to lovers – our lovers are enemies (business rivals, part of a family feud, law enforcement and criminal, etc.) until they realize the depth of their romance. Another delicious trope!

Fairytale – a traditional fairytale is retold in an alternate cultural or historical setting.

Fake engagement – in order to solve an exterior plot problem, our lovers pretend to be engaged, often with a set of elaborate rules and limitations for their relationship. Ha!! I love this one, too!

Fish out of water – one of our lovers doesn’t fit in a social or professional environment, but that doesn’t keep him/her from proving him/herself and winning the heart of the one s/he loves. I haven’t tried this one, but I’m already getting ideas, especially with a time-travel. On second thought, yes I am using this trope in my current WIP.

Fling – our lovers intend their relationship to last for a short time (from one night to a specific longer period, such as a vacation or a work project), but their relationship grows beyond those limitations.

Friends to lovers – our lovers have been friends for some time, but only now are discovering that they want something more from their relationship. Tangled Bloom is a Friends to Lovers trope.

Marriage of convenience – our lovers are determined to marry but they feel no love for each other; rather, there is some business or social reason that compels their relationship.

Matchmaker – a matchmaker unites two lovers. This story can either be about how the two lovers make their relationship work, or it can be about how the matchmaker falls in love with one of the matched lovers.

May/December – our lovers have a substantial age gap. When a woman is the older lover, this is often called a “cougar” relationship.

Military – at least one of our lovers works in the military (Army (including Special Forces), Navy (including Seals), Air Force, Marines, etc.)

Mistaken identity – one of our lovers is assumed to be someone s/he is not, and s/he perpetuates the misunderstanding for reasons best known to him/herself. This is another fun trope I would like to use.

Office romance – our lovers work together, either as co-workers or as employer/employee.

On the road – our lovers are on a road trip (or boat trip or plane trip or whatever), out of their element, encountering new experiences as their relationship grows.

On the rocks – our lovers are united as the action of the story begins, but their relationship is going through hard times. I’m not sure about this one … at least, for myself. It sounds too much like real life and I need it to be upbeat and humorous. Although I can usually find humor in situations.

Opposites attract – our lovers seem to be opposites in everything they think matters (vegetarian/carnivore, Democrat/Republican, city/country, etc.), but they discover that love unites them in ways beyond those differences. Now this one I’ve seen done, and the ones I like is the story that brings out humor, of course!

Orphan – one of our lovers is an orphan, either literally (both of his/her parents died when s/he was young) or figuratively (s/he was in the foster care system or otherwise deprived of ordinary familial love.) I wrote a romantic suspense years ago with this as one of the tropes. Now I want to look for it and see if it’s any good … something I can spruce up!

Parent/childcare worker – one of our lovers is a parent; the other is hired to care for his/her child(ren) as a nanny, tutor, or governess.

Performer – one of our lovers is an actor or a musician, with the temptation of other people in his/her field, often with the challenges of frequent travel.

Playboy – one of our lovers has a reputation for playing the field, seeking out sexual relationships without any emotional attachment – until s/he meets his/her one true love. Love this! Rugged Bloom also had this trope in it. Coltrane Bloom was definitely a Playboy until he met the heroine!

Politics – one of our lovers is a politician, works on a political campaign, or works in a government office, frequently under the scrutiny of media and with need for an impeccable reputation.

Protector – one of our lovers is determined to protect the other’s safety, usually as a bodyguard or law enforcement agent, but a protector might be hired to protect reputation instead of physical health. Rugged Bloom and Tangled Bloom also has this in the stories, although the heroine’s aren’t very cooperative!

Redemption – one of our lovers has committed wrongs in the past (either against the other lover, or against someone or something else) for which s/he must atone. Yes, I’ve used this one too. Scheduled to be released next spring.

Return to hometown – one of our lovers returns to his/her hometown, either willingly or unwillingly, for a short time or with the intention to stay permanently. Ooh, this is Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock, one of my favorite movies!

Reunion – our lovers knew each other in the past and generally had some romantic relationship back then (at least a one-night stand, possibly a long-term relationship.) Fun, fun, fun! And the past relationship most of the time ended badly. I’ve read a lot of Harlequin books with this trope. Dearly Beloved by Mary Jo Putney used this trope and the book is my all-time favorite!

Revenge – one of our lovers is determined to get revenge for a real or imagined wrong in the past. That wrong might have been committed by the other lover or by his/her relative or close friend. Seduced by Amanda Quick comes to mind, another great book that’s on my “To Keep” shelf.

Royalty – one of our lovers is descended from royalty (or nobility); this trope includes sheikhs, princes, etc.

Runaway bride/groom – one of our lovers gets cold feet on the eve of his/her wedding, but discovers in the course of being chased that s/he can truly love another. Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

Scars – one of our lovers lives with physical or psychological scars from the past and overcomes the pain of those scars with the help of the other lover. I really love this trope. I also have heard it called Tortured Hero/ine.

Secret baby – our heroine is or was pregnant with the hero’s baby, but he does not know the child is his.

Secret/lost heir – one of our lovers is the secret heir or lost heir to a great fortune (which s/he may or may not know s/he will inherit.)

Sex worker with a heart of gold – one of our lovers works regularly exchanging money for sex, but once s/he meets the other lover, s/he’s ready to give up that profession.

Stranded – our lovers are stranded together, with the forced environment kindling their relationship. They might be stranded on a desert island, in an airport after a flight cancellation, in a motel on a road trip, etc. Love this, too!

Sudden baby – one of our lovers discovers or inherits a child s/he never planned on nurturing.

Time travel – one of our lovers travels backward or forward through time to reach the other.

Tortured hero(ine) – one of our lovers has a dramatic, often secret past that causes him/her to live in emotional agony, cut off from the common joy of a loving relationship.

Ugly duckling – one of our lovers is not conventionally beautiful, but in the course of falling in love either becomes conventionally beautiful or discovers that conventions are immaterial.

Unrequited love – one of our lovers has long wished for a romantic relationship with the other. This is a wonderful trope, too!

Virgin – one of our lovers has never consummated a sexual relationship.

Widow(er) – one of our lovers has lost his/her spouse. The widow(er) might have been happily married, or s/he might have been unfulfilled in his/her marriage.

(Wo)man in peril – one of our lovers is in physical peril from some outside person or organization; the other lover rescues him/her.